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Monday, May 5, 2008

Visit Sipalay - Negros Occidental


Sipalay has various natural fascinations that one can see & experience. The 3-hour land trip to the city is truly rewarding as you start exploring the bounties that abound the place.

Beach Resorts

15-minute boat ride from the city proper is the Sugar Beach - German, Swiss and Filipino-owned resorts line this sugary beach, which offers an excellent place for swimming, and various water sports activities.

Not far from the Sugar Beach is the Tinagong Dagat - a hidden sea sprinkled with a dozen islets covered with lush vegetation. The sea bottom is covered with patches of sea grass beds, with the shoreline lined by old-growth mangroves.

Punta Ballo Beach is located in close proximity to Tinagong Dagat- This fine white sandy beach is more than a kilometer stretch. It's the nearest jump off point towards the sea ideal for snorkeling & diving due to the rich marine life.

Going more or less 10 minutes from the Punta Ballo Beach is Campomanes Bay - The bay is excellent not only for diving but for jet skiing, kayaking, and all sorts of water sports. It has an existing port that caters to medium-sized sea craft. The enclosed shape of the bay and islets in its opening provide calm waters even in harsh weather conditions. Entrance to the bay is a wide expanse of coral garden with various species of corals and fish.

Resort Name: Artistic Diving
Location: Punta Ballo, Brgy. IV, Sipalay City
Website: www.artisticdiving.com
Email add: info@artisticdiving.com
Contact No. : +63 - 919 - 4095594


Resort Name: Bermuda Beach Resort
Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City
Email add: francis.buchwalder@bluewin.ch
Contact No. : +63 - 919 - 4856141


Resort Name: Driftwood Village
Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City
Website: www.driftwood-village.com
Email add: info@driftwood-village.com
Contact No. : +63 - 920 - 2529474

Resort Name: Takatuka Beach & Dive Resort
Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City
Website: www.takatuka-lodge.com
Email add: relax@takatuka-lodge.com
Contact No. : +63 - 920 - 2309174

Resort Name: Easy Diving
Location: Punta Ballo, Sipalay City
Website: www.sipalay.com
Email add: christian@sipalay.com
Contact No.09104926622

Resort Name: Langub Beach Resort
Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City
Contact No. : +63 - 918 - 5738952

Resort Name: Sulu Sunset Beach Resort
Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City
Website: www.sulusunset.com
Email add: mail@sulusunset.com
Contact No. : +63 - 919 - 7167182

Resort Name: Robinson Cruse Beach Resort
Location: Punta Ballo, Brgy. IV, Sipalay City
Contact No: 09203318508
Website: www.robinsoncruse.com
Email add: info@robinsoncruse.com


Resort Name: Fiesta Cove
Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City
Contact No: 09186896075

Pension House

Langub Pension House
Location: Cor. Alvarez-Lacson Sts. Brgy. 1, Sipalay City
Contact No.: 09185738952


Manna Pension
Location: Quirino Ave. , Brgy. 1, Sipalay City
Contact No.: 0919392049


Matlag Farm House
Location: Brgy. IV, Sipalay City
Contact No.: 09208881200


Sipalay Suites
Location: Mercedes Blvd. , Brgy. 1, Sipalay City
Contact #: (034) 473 - 0350 / (+63) 926-924-8410
Website: www.sipalaysuites.com
Email add: sipalaysuites@yahoo.com.ph


TOURISM CIRCUITS

Tourism Clusters

Cluster 1: North Coastal Cluster
This cluster is closest to Punta Bulata and covers the Barangays of Cartagena, Canturay and Nauhang. There are several dive sites along the coast, the more important of which are in Anajauan Island and off Cartagena Beach . The mangroves in the coast have to be enhanced and preserved. Resorts also abound along the Sugar Beach in Brgy. Nauhang.

Cluster 2: Canturay Resort Cluster
The home of the Four Canturay Falls and breathtaking view of Canturay Bay . This must be maintained as natural open area. This can be a possible site for residential and recreational developments.

Cluster 3: Barangay Gil Montilla Agri-Tourism Cluster
Today this barangay is where rice cultivation is concentrated and where an agricultural school is located. It is proposed that a Rice Museum and Agricultural Training Center be located in this cluster as it is very accessible from the urban areas of Sipalay. The manufacture of crafts and delicacies, as well as activities that can enhance the educational value of agro-tourism need to be developed.

Cluster 4: Malinab Lagoon and Upper Sipalay River Trek Cluster
The cluster in Barangay Cabadiangan showcases mainly nature tourism, so a river trekking strip is proposed to be constructed along the banks of the Sipalay River . It is also in this cluster where the Malinab Lagoon and the Mambaroto Reservoir are located, both suitable sites for day excursions and picnics.

Cluster 5: Poblacion Cluster
This cluster is located in Barangays 1, 2, 3 and 5. Because this area is flood-prone and is located in accreted lands, the City needs to relocate its Civic Center to higher ground--Barangay Gil Montilla. With such a move, there is a need to convert the existing buildings in the Poblacion to structures on stilts (renovated structures) to serve tourism functions.

Cluster 5 then becomes the gateway and the main information and interpretative center of Sipalay City . The market shall provide food, dry goods and souvenirs for tourists. Fresh food produce as well as cuisine typical of the Visayas shall find outlets in food shops at the Poblacion Cluster.

The proposed trekking train is along the riverbanks, marked by meditation areas and view decks affording a view of wetland vegetation. The landscaping can be made more functional and educational to allow visitors to learn what plant materials they can use in their homes. Proper signages shall be installed along the river.

Cluster 6: South Coastal Cluster
This covers Barangay 4 where several tourist resorts are located, Panaon River in the north, Tinagong Dagat and its vicinity. Access and accommodations are generally adequate.

Cluster 7: Caving Cluster
Located in Barangays Mambaroto and Maricalum, these sites are mainly sites for eco-tourism. Numerous caves are located in both barangays, requiring the conduct of topographic mapping and the proper classification of cave features to determine which are going to be protected and, therefore closed for scientific purposes, opened to the public for tourism purposes, and controlled for safety and scientific reasons. The more important caves can be provided with illumination, but fiber optics lighting instead of infrared lighting will be installed. Specific guidelines about how to enter the caves need to be crafted and tour guides need to be trained to assist tourists in spelunking.

Cluster 8: Dive Sites and Resorts Cluster
In the southern coasts of Sipalay, further south of Barangay 4 are several beach resorts and dive sites. Most of the resorts are co-owned by Europeans and are consequently more known in Western Europe but are slowly gaining popularity among Negrenses. Nevertheless, promotions and transport linkages need to be improved in order to encourage more visitors to these places.

Cluster 9: Marine Eco-Tourism Cluster
Campomanes Bay is now declared a Marine Reserve and hence requires a Bantay Dagat (Bay Watch) to regulate development and movement in Campomanes Bay as well as provide marine protection. Campomanes Bay also hosts the City's Ecoport and two shipwreck sites, both of which can be used for marine tourism. An access road to link Barangay 4 to the port facilities may be needed, particularly when the landside of the bay is developed.

Cluster 10: Cayhagan Livelihood Tourism Cluster
The areas of importance in this cluster are Tuburan and Bagacay. This cluster is close to the Municipality of Hinobaan , which is said to be the area where the Filipino guerillas landed with supplies and communications from Australia during the Second World War. Nabulao Bay is the southern boundary of this cluster. Access to this cluster is required.

Cluster 11: Philex Gold Mine Cluster
The cluster is in the Barangay of Nabulao and North of the Municipality of Hinobaan and offers good potential for industrial heritage tourism as well as a model site for the adaptive reuse of an old mine. Viewpoints can be located in specific sites within the bounds of the mine site. At the same time, the cluster can support facilities for conventions and retreats.

Cluster 12: Dung-i Cluster
This cluster is located in the uplands of Manlucahoc. Its key feature is a rustic valley set against sheer limestone cliffs. Campsites and facilities may be developed in these areas. The social history of the population and its memorabilia are recommended features to be included in an interpretative center and museum in the core of the cluster. The educational value of the site must be emphasized.

Cluster 13: Omas Managed Forest and Bird Watching Cluster
This cluster is located northeast of the City in the Barangay of Camindangan, where the community-based forest management project is located. This cluster is proposed to be mainly a nature tour site where an interpretative center is essential. Sites for bird watching have to be delineated and accommodations for overnight stays established. Facilities for eco-tourism, particularly communal utilities, trails and rangers' posts need to be constructed.

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